When it comes to measuring our health, we’re all about quality over quantity.
That is, we’re really not concerned about “perfect BMIs”, counting calories or obsessing over a number on a scale.
Fact is, focusing on all these figures simply isn’t a true measure of your health and wellbeing. And there are more important factors that go into being your healthiest you.
BMI myth busters.
Your Body Mass Index (BMI) is basically the ratio of your mass to your squared height. Because it’s so simple, it’s widely used to measure the “normal weight” (and by extension health) status of individuals. But on it’s own, it’s just not an accurate measure of either, says IQS Expert and dietician Natalie Bourke.
“It does not account for muscle mass versus fat mass,” says Natalie. “So if you’re someone who has a bit of muscle you’ll still be considered obese and at a higher risk of obesity related diseases. Which simply isn’t true in most cases.”
Calories in… calories out…
You may have realised by now that we’re not into counting calories. That’s because not all calories are created equal.
Yes you need to create a calorie deficit to lose weight. But that chicken and veg salad is going to have a very different biological influence on satiety, brain activity and metabolic rate compared to that Snickers bar, even though they might contain the same amount of calories on the plate.
Weight really is just a number.
Yes, the number on the scale can be a ballpark indicator of whether you’re eating too much or too little. But obsessing about small fluctuations isn’t doing you any favours. “Weight can fluctuate daily depending on food, salt and fluid intake – and how many number twos you’ve done,” says IQS Expert and dietician Dr Kerith Duncanson.
“A ‘healthy weight’ is going to look different on every single body.”
In today’s culture, it can be all too easy for self esteem to be tangled up with this particular number. “This is outsourcing your self worth to a figure that isn’t very accurate,” says Natalie. “A ‘healthy weight’ is going to look different on every single body. Your healthy weight might be 5–10kg heavier than a friend’s.”
The true measure of health.
Rather than obsessing over the smaller numbers, Kerith and Natalie recommend keeping sight of the bigger picture.
When it comes to finding a “healthy weight”, Kerith suggests getting your nutrition and physical activity in order first and seeing where your weight naturally falls. “I have seen clients reduce their body weight by 100kg, but then rebound right back up simply because they could not lose that elusive last 5kg that they had set themselves.”
“Health and wellbeing can be measured in terms of real self-acceptance, where we can truly say we are content and happy in ourselves.”
Health is also about being in touch with your physical and emotional needs. “I would encourage you to focus on how well you sleep, how stable your energy levels and mood are, how well your digestive system functions and how you speak to yourself on a daily basis,” says Natalie.
Kerith agrees. “Health and wellbeing can be measured in terms of real self-acceptance, where we can truly say we are content and happy in ourselves,” she says. “This comes with knowing that we are doing what we can to nourish and nurture our bodies in the best way possible.”
How do you measure your health?
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